scott7877 0 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 (edited) Hi guys, I have got two 8 wk old hob kits, and was just wondering if anyone has any info on the best way to get them ready for working. Should I get some drainage tubes so they get used to going down holes, or will their natural predator instinct tell them what to do when they pick up a scent. Also what would be the best age to get them started, I know about 6 months for working but should I start them now with training? Edited July 25, 2011 by scott7877 Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Hi guys, I have got two 8 wk old hob kits, and was just wondering if anyone has any info on the best way to get them ready for working. Should I get some drainage tubes so they get used to going down holes, or will their natural predator instinct tell them what to do when they pick up a scent. i always have my kits running drainage pipes before there took out on there first ferreting trip which is around 7 to 8 months old it gets them used till dark places and keeps them fit ready for there first season id run my young ones with an expierenced ferret as there always good for bringing a young ferret on but if you dont already have a working ferret then just stick to small setts with them dont be expecting to much from your young ferrets as like all young animals they will f**k about abit the first few times there took out but should soon settle down and get down to work some ferrets will take longer than others to mature but just stick with them mate and atb with them 1 Quote Link to post
redtailhawk1 84 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 When ready just start them in small sets following an experienced ferret. Once they know what's down there they will soon get going. Quote Link to post
logan 447 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 starve the f**k out of them. works every time Quote Link to post
seany 54 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Hi guys, I have got two 8 wk old hob kits, and was just wondering if anyone has any info on the best way to get them ready for working. Should I get some drainage tubes so they get used to going down holes, or will their natural predator instinct tell them what to do when they pick up a scent. Also what would be the best age to get them started, I know about 6 months for working but should I start them now with training? Hiya mate,It was my first season ferreting last year with two new ferrets,I was told and read in books to get them used to being picked up off the floor this stops them skullking(shying away and running back down the hole) But the most important thing is to get out as much as possible with them and it will all fall into place good luck. ATB Seany Quote Link to post
sean1 13 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 starve the f**k out of them. works every time just forget about them for a week,then try them but use gloves when getting them out of the box! :thumbs: also change ther water to bulls blood,you can get it from most butchers these days. Quote Link to post
scott7877 0 Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Am gonna get two runs set up and connect them with some tubes, hopefully with them being young they'll see it as play. They ain't too bad at being picked up from the floor, as i have them roaming about the garden most times when I go to see them, one gets a bit jumpy when you start to lift him but hes getting better. Only had them both 5 days but they I think they are getting used to me as I constantly talk to them so they get used to my voice as well as my hands. Thanks for the info guys and not shooting me down for being a newbie, lol. Quote Link to post
Jamie m 668 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 If there gooduns there gooduns if there not there not Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 If there gooduns there gooduns if there not there not well all the man can do is give them a go and hope they work out for him Quote Link to post
tegater 789 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I agree with a lot of what has been said. I have had ferrets on and off for the last 40 years, and have never had to do anything with any of them, apart from work them. I have drainage tubes in their court and in the garden, and along with giving them plenty of fresh rabbit, I have always found they are good. If they are a bit unsure, catch a baby rabbit and introduce them to it, they soon get the idea! Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I agree with a lot of what has been said. I have had ferrets on and off for the last 40 years, and have never had to do anything with any of them, apart from work them. I have drainage tubes in their court and in the garden, and along with giving them plenty of fresh rabbit, I have always found they are good. If they are a bit unsure, catch a baby rabbit and introduce them to it, they soon get the idea! just feed them rabbit with the fur still on them thell soon no what a rabbit is when out in the feild no need to throw a young rabbit into them Quote Link to post
Jamie m 668 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 (edited) I agree with a lot of what has been said. I have had ferrets on and off for the last 40 years, and have never had to do anything with any of them, apart from work them. I have drainage tubes in their court and in the garden, and along with giving them plenty of fresh rabbit, I have always found they are good. If they are a bit unsure, catch a baby rabbit and introduce them to it, they soon get the idea! I bring the young kits in the house and show them DVDs such as the warrener and Simon whitehead , and I leave a smart phone in the hutch so they can watch the jcr crew on you tube , I find this brings them on a treat and last seasons youngster were putting the purse nets out themselves by 8 months old , I'm sure when the Normans domesticated the pole cat that's how come they invented the tube to train there wild caught captive bred poleys and teach them the art of ferreting ,???? Edited July 25, 2011 by Jamie m 2 Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,216 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 There is a lot of sense and a lot of total and utter bollocks that has been said already. Handle them a lot, get them used to you feet, the dogs, the nets, tubes, tunnels, the grass, going in the box, getting collars on. Pick them up from the mouth of tubes gently and calmly, so they don't mind your hand reaching for them at the mouth of a hole. Feed them and water them well, maybe introduce a whistle when you feed them. Do not starve them, thats stupid, pointless and cruel, and do not throw them live bunnies, it's also pointless, cruel and just weird. Enter them, in small, occupied warrens, maybe behind an experianced worker. Now heres a thing i sometimes do that people will probably think is mad. When the young un is put in first time (i do it alone), and a rabbit bolts, i quickly neck it in the net and leave it by the hole for the ferret to come out and have a rag of, as a wee reward. . . .seems to (in my head) make them equate bolting as a good thing, rather than killing in. (maybe i'm mad, but last season we didn't have one, mid tube kill or dig). Quote Link to post
seany 54 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 There is a lot of sense and a lot of total and utter bollocks that has been said already. Handle them a lot, get them used to you feet, the dogs, the nets, tubes, tunnels, the grass, going in the box, getting collars on. Pick them up from the mouth of tubes gently and calmly, so they don't mind your hand reaching for them at the mouth of a hole. Feed them and water them well, maybe introduce a whistle when you feed them. Do not starve them, thats stupid, pointless and cruel, and do not throw them live bunnies, it's also pointless, cruel and just weird. Enter them, in small, occupied warrens, maybe behind an experianced worker. Now heres a thing i sometimes do that people will probably think is mad. When the young un is put in first time (i do it alone), and a rabbit bolts, i quickly neck it in the net and leave it by the hole for the ferret to come out and have a rag of, as a wee reward. . . .seems to (in my head) make them equate bolting as a good thing, rather than killing in. (maybe i'm mad, but last season we didn't have one, mid tube kill or dig). Best reply so far, ATB Seany Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 There is a lot of sense and a lot of total and utter bollocks that has been said already. Handle them a lot, get them used to you feet, the dogs, the nets, tubes, tunnels, the grass, going in the box, getting collars on. Pick them up from the mouth of tubes gently and calmly, so they don't mind your hand reaching for them at the mouth of a hole. Feed them and water them well, maybe introduce a whistle when you feed them. Do not starve them, thats stupid, pointless and cruel, and do not throw them live bunnies, it's also pointless, cruel and just weird. Enter them, in small, occupied warrens, maybe behind an experianced worker. Now heres a thing i sometimes do that people will probably think is mad. When the young un is put in first time (i do it alone), and a rabbit bolts, i quickly neck it in the net and leave it by the hole for the ferret to come out and have a rag of, as a wee reward. . . .seems to (in my head) make them equate bolting as a good thing, rather than killing in. (maybe i'm mad, but last season we didn't have one, mid tube kill or dig). Best reply so far, ATB Seany thats because hes the ferrret guru Quote Link to post
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